Meter box



July 6 1926.

L. G. HAASE METER BOX Filed Dec. 9. 1925 Patented July 6,` 1926.

UNITED srzirla's` 1591,16@ PATENT; OFFICE.

LEO G. HAASE, 0F LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA.

METER Box;

Application filed December 9, 1925. Serial No. 74,382.

This invention relates to improvements in water meter boxes, and may be considered as ranged over the water shut-0H valve adjav cent the water meter, permitting the valve to be opened or closed.

Another object'of this invention is to provide a water meter box of the above described lconstruction in which the closure over the water meter can be readily removed from the .exterior of the box but the closure over the water shut-oif valve can be removed only from the interior of the box for a purpose hereinafter to be more fully described.

A further object of this invention is to provide a water meter box having openings over the water meter and the shut-0E valve and closures for these openings, and which is so constructed as to be exceptionally strong.

lith the foregoing and other objects in view which will be made manifest in the following detailed description and specifically pointed out in the appended claims, reference is had to the accompanying drawing-s for an illustrative embodiment of the invention, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the improved water meter box,

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the box, the closures or covers being shown as removed,

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on the line 4--4 of Fig. 2 in the direction indicated,

Fig. 5 is a plan View of the large closure,

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the same, and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the small closure or plug.

Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein similar reference characters designate similar parts throughout, the improved water meter box has a top 10 and convergent side walls 11 and 12, which are connected by means of rounded ends 13 and 14. An opening preferably circular in form is provided inthe top 10 adjacent the large rounded end 14. This opening is provided with a bead or rabbet 15 forming a seat for the closure or cover 16. The box and closures therefor are preferably form-ed of cement, concrete or similar self-hardening plastic material andin;

strengthening the large closure or cover 16,

metallic reinforcing ribs 17 are preferably imbedded therein. The cover`16'is provided with an aperture V18 permitting a key to be inserted therethrough to remove the'cover from the box. f

Adjacent the small end 13 there is formed a partition 19 extending from the top 10 partially down the box. This partition may be formed in arcuatemanner and merges into the convergent side walls 11 and 12. Its bottom is connected to the end 13 by. means of ya web 2O having an' aperture 21 formed therein. The partition 19 together with the side walls 11 and 12 adjacent the end 13 and the end 13 cooperate to form a conical seat 22 for the small closure 23. It will be noted that the small closure 23 .and its seat 22 are materially deeper than the seat and closure' on the opening which is arranged over the Water meter M. The plug or closure 23 does not have an aperture corresponding to the aperture 18 so that it cannot be removed from the box from the outside. It can be removed, however, after the cover 16 has been removed, such as by striking its under side by a hammer or equivalent instrument which is inserted through the opening normaly closed by the cover 16. The aperture 21 is arranged directly over the water shut-off valve V so that when the plug 23 is removed, this valve can be opened or closed through the aperture 21. The long seat 22 and the depth of the plug 23 make this part of the box equally as strong, if not stronger, than the reinforced cover 16. The ends 13 and 14 of the box are provided with openings 24 for the water pipe P.

kThe purpose of the above vdescribed construction is as follows: It is very seldom that it is necessary to operate the valve V but thewater meter M is usually read at certain intervals, as for example, once a month. Consequently, the cover 16 arranged overthe water meter can be easily and quickly removed upon the insertion of a key through the aperture 18. The usual construction now employed as distinguished from that shown in my prior patents is to use what is commonly called a plug valve for the water y.of knocking out 'the plug 13 Vso that he can operate the valve V.

It Willbe noted from the drawing that the top r10 is integral with the side Walls of the box. Not-only does .this make a boxof ,neat and attractive appearance, but it makes it much stronger. and permits the box to, be

u shipped `Without `as great Vdanger of breakage asiin'the Constructions Where the top 10 is separate rom the side Walls. The boxmay v.be 'simply defined :as being a one piece box having a. top .andside walls integral with eachother, two openings in the top and closures for-said openings.

It Will be noted from theabove described =construotion'thatthe improved box is very neat in appearance and is-very strong. Also it provides plenty of room for the applica- 'tion of Wrenches tothe unions connecting the water meter M to the Water pipe P.

It will be understood that various changes inthe-detail of construction may be made Without departing from the scope and spirit ofthe invention as defined by the appended Y claims.

I olaim:

1. A Water meter box having tivo openings in its top, and closures for said openings, one of said Closures being removable from the exterior of the box and the other closure beingremovable only Jfrom the interior of the box.

2. A watermeter box having tivo openings in its top, closures for said openings,

.one of said closures being removable from theexterior of the .boX and-the other closure being removable only 'from the interior of 4the box, the first mentioned closure being adapted tohe arranged over thewater meter,

and the otherelosure'being adapted to be arranged over the shut-olf valve.

ln testimonyv whereof I have signed my name to .this specification.

'LEO G. I-IAASE. 

